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South Side Man Homeless After House Explosion

CHICAGO (WBBM) -- A South Side man is homeless after his house blew up last weekend.

Quincy Forrest is lucky to be alive.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Nancy Harty Reports

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The 29-year-old was in critical condition after his home exploded Sunday, while he was in it.

After being treated from the hospital and released, the Red Cross gave him a voucher so he and his mother could stay in a hotel. However, it expires today.

A Red Cross spokeswoman says they have so many requests for help that they couldn't extend the hotel stay. She says they did get a call from someone offering assistance, but she didn't know if Forrest took the aid.

The only thing left standing at the house in West Pullman was the concrete porch. Every other part, and the possessions inside, were destroyed.

The explosion shattered glass, shredded wood into countless pieces and blew large appliances to the back of the lot. Clothes, bags and a purse hung from branches of a tall tree nearby.

The Chicago Fire Department is still investigating the cause of the explosion. People in the neighborhood said they smelled gas, and gas was cut off in the area right after the explosion. It has since been restored on the block.

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